Mysterious Headache Quiz

According to the National Headache Foundation, more than 45 million Americans suffer from chronic, recurring headaches. If you're one of those Americans, you know how debilitating a headache can be. Not all headaches should be dismissed as a minor annoyance, however, and can be a symptom of a bigger underlying problem. What's causing your headache?

Start Quiz »

You scored

0 out of 20

Question 1 of 20

Because they share similar symptoms, migraines are commonly misdiagnosed as what type of headache?

myofascial pain dysfunction (MPD)

sinus

Migraines (without aura) and sinus headaches both have symptoms that include throbbing pain primarily on one side of the head, nausea and upset stomach.

hunger

caffeine-withdrawal

Question 2 of 20

What is the most common type of vascular headache?

cluster

migraine, without aura

Although doctors don't fully understand why some people get aura-free migraines, these headaches are believed to be triggered by changes in the brain's chemicals and nerve pathways affecting blood flow to blood vessels and tissue around the brain and scalp.

migraine, with aura

exertion

Question 3 of 20

What is not a migraine trigger?

weather fluctuations

tooth grinding

It's currently believed that a combination of genes and environment (weather, sleep, foods) may be triggers for migraines.

certain foods

irregular sleep

Question 4 of 20

You may think your headache is no big deal, but if it's sudden and severe, it may be a symptom something is very wrong. Approximately what percent of headache sufferers who find themselves in the ER discover their headache is due to another condition?

1 to 10 percent

10 to 37 percent

An estimated 10 to 37 percent of headaches that are treated in the ER are due to a secondary cause such as a subarachnoid hemorrhage or cerebral sinus thrombosis.

40 to 60 percent

Question 5 of 20

What can overuse of analgesics such as ibuprofen or aspirin cause?

temporal arteritis

rebound headaches

Many people take over-the-counter medications to relieve a headache, but when these meds are overused, they can cause more headaches. These 'rebound' headaches are caused by your body's withdrawal from the medication, creating a cycle of more frequent headaches and more medication.

tension headaches

cluster headaches

Question 6 of 20

Dull, achy headaches that are worse in the morning, cause vomiting, worsen with exercise (or even just kneeling) and don't respond to headache medications may be a sign of what illness?

brain tumor

About 8 percent of people with a brain tumor experience headaches as an initial symptom, but most will experience it as their illness progresses. These headaches are usually in the area where the tumor is growing.

cushing's syndrome

fibromyalgia

myofascial pain dysfunction (MPD) syndrome

Question 7 of 20

What type of headache typically begins suddenly and severely with steady, sharp and burning pain on one side of the head?

eyestrain

cluster

Cluster headaches cause pain on one side of the head, usually behind one eye with pain radiating across the temple, cheek or forehead. They may also cause facial flushing, sinus congestion, a drooping eyelid or tearing eye among other symptoms. These headaches are chronic, severe and generally occur in males ages 20 to 50.

allergy

tension

Question 8 of 20

What percentage of migraine suffers are women?

20 percent

50 percent

70 percent

Medical professionals estimate that about 70 percent of people who get migraines are women, and about 70 percent of female sufferers' migraines are triggered by their menstrual cycles.

90 percent

Question 9 of 20

Your blood vessels rapidly constrict and then dilate, triggering trigeminal nerve pain. You have sudden pain in your forehead. It's not a migraine -- what is it?

sphenopalatine ganglioneuralgia

When you're warm and eat or drink something cold, the nerves in your palate trigger the blood vessels in your head to swell, rapidly. This swelling causes your head to hurt. There's nothing wrong -- it's just sphenopalatine ganglioneuralgia -- also known as a 'brain freeze' -- and the pain will go away in less than 5 minutes.

heart attack

stroke

Question 10 of 20

What tool do medical professionals use to evaluate kids and teens for migraines?

CHAT

PedMIDAS

The PedMIDAS questionnaire is a series of six questions designed to assess how headaches affect school attendance and performance, after-school activities (sports and social events) and daily activities (such as chores and homework).

HIT

KIP

Question 11 of 20

What might a headache accompanied by fatigue, difficulty concentrating and a general feeling of sluggishness indicate?

caffeine withdrawal

Caffeine is a mild stimulant and when our body is used to having it and suddenly doesn't, we experience withdrawal symptoms -- from headaches and fatigue to irritability and anxiety -- in as little as 12 to 20 hours after our last dose.

tension headache

sinus infection

Question 12 of 20

Which nerve is the largest sensory nerve in the head?

sciatic

trigeminal

The trigeminal nerve is the largest sensory nerve in our head, and when we have headaches (and toothaches) it's this nerve that's activated.

vagus

vestibular

Question 13 of 20

Orgasms have been known to cause what type of headache?

tension

cluster

exertion

Sex, along with running, coughing or other strenuous activity can cause exertion headaches. While they can be severe, they usually don't last longer than an hour. If migraines run in your family, you may be susceptible.

Question 14 of 20

Headaches that are accompanied by a clicking sound when you open and close your mouth are usually caused by all of the following except:

emotional stress

malocclusion (a misaligned bite)

jaw clenching

sinus infection

One of the most common types of facial pain and headache is myofascial pain dysfunction (MPD) syndrome (previously known as temporomandibular joint syndrome, or TMJ). MPD causes a dull, aching headache, usually around one ear, that may radiate around one side of the head and into the neck.

Question 15 of 20

Besides dental decay, what can a toothache indicate?

sinus infection or sinusitis

Sinus headaches may be caused by infection, nasal polyps or a blockage in the sinus ducts. They often present as an aching pain across the face, with or without fever, and can cause tooth pain and pericoronal inflammation.

migraine, without aura

allergic reaction

Question 16 of 20

Headaches tend to plague dieters and anyone who misses a meal -- what's the cause?

physical exertion

hormones

low blood sugar

Low blood sugar levels are the culprit here, and they can hit anyone, not just diabetics. A combination of complex carbohydrates and protein eaten in small meals throughout the day can help you avoid hunger headaches.

hypertension

Question 17 of 20

A recent blow to the head leaves you with a headache combined with loss of balance, trouble concentrating and ringing in your ears. What might be your diagnosis?

concussion

A concussion is an injury to the brain that happens after a blow to the head or to the body.

hypertension

diabetes

Question 18 of 20

When a headache is accompanied by neck stiffness, fever and an altered state of consciousness, what could that indicate?

toxoplasmosis

bacterial meningitis

Bacterial meningitis is an infection in spinal cord fluid and fluid surrounding the brain, and is usually caused by one of the following bacteria: Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib), Neisseria meningitidis, and Streptococcus pneumoniae.

progressive multifocal leukoencephalophathy

stroke

Question 19 of 20

Chewing, laughing, talking, even a cold breeze, may trigger this type of head pain:

sphenopalatine ganglioneuralgia

trigeminal neuralgia

Trigeminal neuralgia (TN) causes chronic, sudden flashes of facial pain that last from seconds to a few minutes. It's more common in women than men and usually happens in people over age 50.

cluster headaches

hypertension headaches

Question 20 of 20

What diagnostic test is used to evaluate Giant Cell Arteritis, a cause of severe headaches in people over age 55?

Westergren method

In addition to the Westergren method sedimentation rate blood test, diagnostic tests may include an angiogram, an ultrasound and a biopsy.